Bic Lighter Thief Strikes In New Lenox Again: Cops

NEW LENOX, IL - Michael R. Tucker is becoming a familiar name and face with the New Lenox Police Department and at the Circle K gas station. The Nelson Road business is where the 59-year-old Joliet man is accused of stealing lots of Bic lighters for the second time in less than two months.

Last week, Will County State's Attorneys filed a new criminal complaint against the convicted thief who lives in the 800 block of Joliet's Fuller Street. Tucker is charged with felony retail theft, but so far, he has not been captured by the police.

Tucker was convicted of retail theft in Will County already once this year, according to the complaint.

On Thursday, New Lenox Deputy Chief of Police Louis Alessandrini met with New Lenox Patch at the police station and explained the circumstances surrounding the latest retail theft inside the Circle K:

New Lenox Police say that on Oct. 5, Tucker entered the New Lenox Circle K. He bought one small item and then snatched a rack of Bic cigarette lighters and ran off, police said.

Alessandrini said that Tucker was apparently wearing his Arizona Cardinals jersey, just like he did during his Bic lighter theft that led to his theft arrest in August.

The Oct. 5 theft involved about 25 Bic lighters worth around $67, Alessandrini said. Video surveillance tapes from the Circle K were later shown to New Lenox Police officers who investigated Tucker for the August theft. They determined Tucker is the same person responsible for the Oct. 5 crime, Alessandrini said.

A bench warrant is now out for Tucker's arrest, he said.

During the August crime, Tucker stole a carton of Bic lighters worth around $180, Alessandrini said.

In that crime, police captured Tucker about a block away from the Circle K and took him away in handcuffs and brought him to the Will County Jail. On Sept. 6, Tucker pleaded guilty to that crime. He got a sentence of 14 days in jail, given credit for 11 days of time served, two years of conditional discharge and about $375 in fines, court records show.

He also spent time in the Will County Jail in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

File mugshot of Michael Tucker via Will County Sheriff